Police Move In on Taiwan Protest Over China Trade Pact

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24 March 2014

Baton-wielding riot police on Monday cleared Taiwan’s Cabinet offices of scores of angry protesters opposed to a trade pact with China, escalating tensions over the island’s rapidly developing ties with the communist mainland. Authorities said they arrested 58 protesters and that 137 were injured, including 24 that were hospitalized. The crackdown came five days after mainly student demonstrators occupied the nearby legislature to protest the ruling party’s decision to renege on a promised line-by-line review of the trade agreement. Early Sunday, Tawain President Ma Ying-jeou rejected protester demands to shelve the trade pact, which would open dozens of service sector industries to Chinese investment.—AP